giving the rope a fierce swish
through the air, as if he were hitting at Lobster's back, he put the end
inside the top of his trousers, just beneath his chin, and gradually
worked it down out of sight.

Vince coughed, and he was about to begin, after looking inquiringly at
Mike, who shook his head, and turned it away. But Vince somehow felt as
if it would be better to wait till the whole of the rope had
disappeared, and Daygo had given himself a shake to make it lie
comfortably. Then his lips parted; but the old man checked him by
saying,--

"On'y wait till I meet young Jemmy. I've on'y got to slip my hand in
here, and it's waiting for him. Yes, young gen'lemen, I'm a-going to
make that chap sore as sore as sore."

"No, you're not, Joe," said Vince firmly.

"What? But I just am, my lad. If I don't lay that there piece on to
his back, and make him lie down and holloa, my name arn't Daygo."

"But you are not going to thrash him, Joe," said Vince.

"Who'll stop it?"

"I will," said Vince. "It wasn't Jemmy Carnach and his boy."

"Eh? Oh yes, it was. Lobstering they were arter. I know."

"No, you do not, Joe. They didn't take it."

"What!" cried the old man. "Then who did?"

"Mike Ladelle and I."

"You did!" cried the old man, staring. "Why, I told you I wouldn't let
you have it, and saw you both go home."

"But we didn't go home," said Vince. "We went and hid in the rocks, and
watched till you'd gone away, and then we crept down to the boat and got
her out."

"You did--you two did?" cried the old man; and his hand went into the
top of his trousers.

"Yes," said Vince desperately, "and we had a long sail."

"Well!" growled the old man,--"well! And I thought it was him!"

"We're very sorry we scraped a rock, and made her leak."

"Made her leak!" roared the old man: "why, she's spyled, and I shall
have to get a new boat."

"No, she isn't, Joe: you said it would cost four or five shillings to
mend the hole."

"Eh? Did I?"

"Yes, you did; and Mike and I will give you five shillings to get it
done."

The old man thrust out his great gnarled hand at once for the money.

"We haven't got it here, Joe," said Vince; "but we'll bring it to you
to-night. Eh, Mike?"

"Yes; after tea."

"Honour?"

"Yes: honour."

"Honour bright--gen'leman's honour?"

"Yes," said Vince emphatically.

"Let him say it too," growled Daygo.

"Honour bright, Joe," said Mike.

"Oh, very well, then; I